The job is physically and emotionally draining. You’re also sometimes on call during the middle of the night — not every hospital has a refrigeration system to keep bodies overnight — which can eat into your sleep schedule. It’s emotionally exhausting as well.

Forensic pathologists are medical doctors. While pathology is the study of disease and is a broad field that includes doctors who study biopsy results, forensic pathologists typically focus on studying the dead and the reasons they die.

Average salary for morticians Since the death care services industry is a challenging one to work in, most morticians earn a comfortable salary. The average salary for this position across the U.S. is $59,777 per year.

Job Prospects are Favorable According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people employed as morticians is expected to increase between now and 2029. You can expect an employment rise of 2.7 percent during this time period.

Morticians require an associate’s degree in funeral service or mortuary science. Aspiring morticians can prepare for this degree by studying biology, chemistry and business at high school. Aspiring morticians should obtain an associate’s degree accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE).

Working life In a typical work week as a Mortician, Undertaker and Funeral Director, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Mortuary makeup artists are licensed cosmetologists who perform a variety of cosmetic services to prepare a deceased person for their funeral. Those services might include hair cutting and styling, manicures and applying makeup.

The pathologist removes the internal organs in order to inspect them. They may then be incinerated, or they may be preserved with chemicals similar to embalming fluid. Another option after autopsy is that the organs are placed in a plastic bag that’s kept with the body, though not in the body cavity.